SPEAKERS

Annie Linsemark

Annie Linsemark is a professional in communications and rural development, with a special focus on youth engagement in rural areas. Her commitment to rural development, with a particular focus on youth, reached new heights when she assumed the role of project coordinator for ELARD in the project RURBEST22—a European initiative dedicated to empowering and connecting rural youth across countries. Her involvement in RURBEST22 led her to be part of the project Gen Z Agency. In this project, along with 24 others from Nordic countries, she formulates recommendations for Nordic ministers, the Nordic Council of Ministers, and various authorities. Currently, she is working with the communication efforts at CLLD Halland, Sweden and she actively engages in multiple European projects coordinated by the ELARD Knowledge Hub, including the Youth in Leader network.

Petar Gjorgievski

Petar Gjorgievski is the president of The Rural Development Network of the Republic of North Macedonia. His experience of near 20 years is in the area of agriculture and rural development with an up-to-date knowledge of National and EU rural development policy programmes. He is an expert in community development, utilizing participative tools for local community actions and cooperation between communities at local, regional, national and international level. In the past 10 years Petar works on transferring experience to help others understand the complexity of rural development challenges driven by a large number of factors, and which requires multi-disciplinary and team-work response. Currently he is focused on, rural CSO capacity building, networking and EU LEADER approach as a model for local economic development and enhancement of the capacity of rural civil society organizations in sustainable development.

Laura Jänis

Laura Jänis at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland

Laura Jänis has been working with rural policy and rural development issues in the ministry since 2006. Since 2016 she has been responsible for LEADER in the managing authority. She is interested in developing and strengthening the CLLD method and the added value of LEADER.

Matthias Wagner

• Until 2008: Study of Geography at University of Leipzig
• 2008: employée of the LAG Leipziger Muldenland
• Since 2009: Manager of the LAG Leipziger Muldenland

Projects experiences

• Consulting of over 800 LEADER projects in LAG Leipziger Muldenland
• International LEADER cooperation projects with Finnland, Latvia, Austria, France, Spain and Luxemburg on different topics (youth envolvment, rural coworking, Geopark development)
• Regional networks on local products and local restaurants

Barbara Stumpf

Barbara Stumpf works as a project manager in a LEADER-region in Austria/Styria. Her main areas of work are transnational cooperation projects, sustainable tourism innovation and health tourism. Her educational path is a master’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences for Health Management in Tourism in Austria and additionally a master semester at the University Linköping in Sweden. The professional career led from managing the local tourism association in Hartberg to various regional development offices with EU-funded projects (LEADER, Interreg, Erasmus+).

Enrique Nieto

Enrique Nieto is a Spanish rural economist currently working as Deputy Team Leader of the Rural Pact Support Office in charge of animating and implementing networking activities for the Rural Pact and contribute to the European Commission’s long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas. Enrique holds more than 12 years of experience in European rural networking and has been involved as policy analysist in FARNET, the ENRD and CAP Network leading in particular activities regarding integrated local development and smart villages.

In addition, he is Senior policy expert for AEIDL – The European Association for Innovation in Local Development, and has participated in a number of rural Horizon 2020 & Europe projects such as DESIRA, MOVING or SHERPA and launched the European Local Innovation Forum.

Claudia Bruno

Claudia Bruno is programming and design manager of the LAG Tirreno Eolie that is located in Sicily and puts together several private partners and 14 municipalities between which the Eolian Islands. She was project coordinator for the InterregMED Project Emblematic Plus that had the aim to spread the values of sustainable tourism transmitted by the network of emblematic mountains of the Mediterranean hinterland through the process of eco-itineraries established under the previous EMbleMatiC. Through this project they created 3 eco-itinearies in the island of Stromboli that allowed the Aeolian itineraries to be known and recognized internationally, for the characteristics of slow and experiential tourism even in the mountain areas, to be enjoyed not only in the summer months, but especially in the mild seasons of spring and autumn.

Loïc Sorin

Loïc Sorin is a senior consultant specializing in the food sector, with over 30 years of experience. He is an expert in supporting artisanal businesses and territories development, and has played a key role in the growth of the french network “La Cité du Goût et des Saveurs.” He works partly for the Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat de Bretagne and partly as an independent consultant under the SLR2A banner.

Since 2014, Loïc has also been running his own consulting firm, SLR2A. Through this firm, he assists local governments, companies, and agricultural and food processing sectors in defining and implementing sustainable food strategies and projects. His work spans across France, Europe, and overseas territories, focusing primarily on structuring food supply chains, promoting local economies, and ensuring food sovereignty.

Eduard Trepat

Eduard Trepat is a geographer and coordinator of the Rural Initiatives Association of Catalonia, the Catalan network of Leader Groups. For more than 15 years he has been working projects on rural development related, among others, to demography, depopulation, heritage or rural education. He has coordinated the Atlas of the Rural World and is a promoter of the Rural Agenda of Catalonia (Catalan Rural Pact).

Elena Di Federico

Elena Di Federico is the Publications Manager at the EU CAP Network, where she also contributes to the creation and publication of contents related to the implementation of the CAP (particularly General Objective 3 – Strengthening the social fabric of rural areas). After almost 15 years of experience as a researcher and project manager in the cultural sector, in 2018 Elena joined the ENRD Contact Point, which then became part of the EU CAP Network in 2022. 

Peter Toth

Peter is a networker working for the EU CAP Network. His work experience includes working in awareness-raising and community mobilisation campaigns with an environmental NGO, work for the Managing Authority in Hungary helping to develop and implement the LEADER, village development, and rural tourism measures for the 2007-2013 programming period. Since 2011, Peter has been working with ENRD Contact Point which became part of the EU CAP Network in 2022. His main fields of interest include community-led local development (CLLD), environmental and social issues.

Dr. Konstantinos Zapounidis

Dr. Konstantinos Zapounidis holds a PhD in project and human resources management from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He also has a BSc-MSc in Civil Engineering from the same university and an MSc in Project (Construction) Management from Heriot-Watt University, UK. He is a certified Project Manager by the International Project Management Association. Since 2002, he has been involved in coordinating and managing European cooperation and research projects in applied technologies, and is a LAG Leader Programme Management member. He has led various projects across frameworks such as CLLD/Leader, Interreg MED, ERASMUS+, HORIZON 2020, and others, often serving as Communication Manager. Currently, he is Head of the Projects and Programmes Management Unit at Pieriki Local Development Agency.

He also consults for organizations on co-financed projects totaling nearly €100M, evaluates investment plans, and serves as a Quality Manager under ISO 9001. He is an active member of scientific committees, a reviewer for scientific publications, and an invited lecturer in Civil Engineering and Business Administration courses at various universities. Dr. Zapounidis has authored over thirty scientific papers and is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Civil Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Katharina Koss

Dr. Katharina Koss (Geographer, PhD in rural development)

• since April 2022: working in LAG Leipziger Muldenland, responsible for networking and cooperation projects
• 2012-2022: worked as a scientist and lecturer at University of Leipzig and Leibniz-Institute for Regional Geography in several projects about rural developement, urban development, climate adaptation and demographic topics

Séverine Bressaud

Séverine Bressaud, is the co-founder of eurêka 21, a company specialized in European cooperation notably on the topic of climate change. For many years, she supports the development of transnational cooperation projects in the framework of many European programmes: Leader, Erasmus+, INTERREG… Leader has a specific place in her heart since she is committed since the beginning of her career in encouraging EU cooperation among rural areas. Indeed, cooperation is one of the key to innovate, to foster the ecological transition by improving practices and creating bridges between stakeholders.

Her last transnational projects? Cooperation among the emblematic Mediterranean mountains on sustainable tourism issues and cooperation among European wine producers to adapt their methods, approaches to the climate change.  

Maria Gafo Gómez-Zamalloa

Maria Gafo Gómez-Zamalloa is deputy head of the unit “Social sustainability” in the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission. The Unit of Maria follows social issues in our rural areas, including generational renewal, depopulation, equality, local development or human rights. Her Unit is responsible for the LEADER programme.
Maria has a long experience in the European Commission where she has worked on energy, environment, forestry and agricultural policies.  She coordinated the long-term vision for rural areas adopted in 2021.
 
María holds a PhD in Forestry Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. She completed her studies at the Universities of Wageningen (The Netherlands) and Debrecen (Hungary). She also holds a diploma in European studies from the Diplomatic School.
 
Before joining the European Commission, María was a consultant at Arthur Andersen-Garrigues and participated in several development projects in Mexico, Ecuador and Paraguay with the NGO “Solidarios para el Desarrollo”.

Markkola Juha-Matti (Ruoka)

Network Coordinator in Finnish Rural Network Support Unit responsible for LEADER approach and transnational cooperation

• Member of EU CAP Network’s steering group
• Member of CAP Network’s Subgroup on LEADER and territorial development
• Rural issues cover both my work and leisure time. I live in a small village in Western Finland. I am forester, forest owner, local politician and run a rural tourism business.
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juha-matti-markkola-60205a54

Ana Damovska

Ana Damovska is a project manager in the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia. She has over eighteen years of experience in providing efficient management of agriculture, agribusiness and rural development projects with high level of understanding of broad development issues facing these sectors. Over the past decade, Ana was actively involved in advancement of locally led community development, promotion of collaborative instruments in local initiatives’ implementation as well as in the establishment of the first Local Action Groups in the country. Her continued focus is on capacity building of rural stakeholders, existing and potential LAGs and simulation of the EU LEADER approach as RDN’s strategic commitment to fostering sustainable development and local economic growth in rural areas.

Lorine Payet

I’m the LEADER coordinator and manager for the Haute-Provence Luberon LAG, based in Forcalquier.

Thanks to the wide range of experience I’ve gained from my career in regional development, I naturally specialised in the LEADER European funding programme. My involvement with this scheme began when I was studying, and it was during my years in Gap that I first gained experience of LEADER, followed by another in the Luberon. I was particularly interested in the subject of ‘young people in rural areas’, firstly because it concerned me personally, but above all because I was convinced of the impact of a scheme like LEADER on this issue. At the end of the Young LEADER Forum held in Finland last June, I joined the Youth in LEADER network (managed by ELARD) and am now co-host as well as referent of the Discord, the main communication tool between network members.

Pierre Le Men

Pierre Le Men is a project manager for the European LEADER program, specializing in international cooperation projects focused on rural development. He has led initiatives such as TERRICOOP, DEVLOK, SHERPA, GRANULAR, and PAP ENPARD, driving collaboration and innovation in the sector.

Haude Blanc

Haude is a programme assistant at the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission. She works on the implementation of the Long-Term vision for rural areas. From previous experience, she also worked on CAP Strategic Plans and young farmers interventions.

Her background is in political science and international relations, focusing on border-studies and EU public affairs and policies, especially at territorial level.

 OLHA Oliinyk

I’m an expert, speaker at events, mentor and consultant in partnerships development, promotion, and project management focusing mainly on local self-government bodies. Closely working with local and district councils, and the Regional Council of Vinnytsia region.
I work as a Deputy Head of the Secretariat – Head of the Center for Сommunications, Еxternal relations and Fundraising of Vinnytsia Regional Association of Local Self-Government Bodies).
My goal here: to launch and strengthen partnerships for common projects, build networking and cooperation, learn from other communities to become more prepared for the LEADER/CLLD at both local and regional level.

Fabrice Geoffroy

Fabrice Geoffroy has been a notary in rural areas for more than 20 years, and is accredited for international advice. He is an expert in rural and environmental law and a graduate of the Institut de Sciences Criminelles and the Institut de Législation et d’Économie Rurale. He is also the author of various academic works on eco-certification in forestry, the integration of former Eastern European countries into the CAP, agricultural unionism and international succession planning.

At the same time, Fabrice Geoffroy is an active defender of rurality through his roles as Departmental Councillor for Charente Nord, Mayor, First Vice-Chairman of the PETR Pays du Ruffécois, where he was elected to act as referent for the rural mobility plan and Chairman of the GAL.

Alongside the President of the PETR and the LEADER team, he is closely monitoring the first cooperation project in Charente, which aims to raise awareness among citizens of their civic duty and the importance of the right to vote with a view to the European elections in 2024. The project includes a study trip to Brussels with young people from the Charente (in partnership with Europe Direct), the mobilisation of 4 young ambassadors to promote LEADER funds, and the creation of tools such as a mobile escape game and an educational card game. Presentations are also being organised in centres for young people aged 16/25, making this a long-term initiative.

Wolfgang Berger

Wolfgang Berger is board member of the LEADER-forum Austria and LAG-manager in Austria/Styria. The professional positions range from graphic design and cultural marketing to sociology and regional development. In his scientific work he dealt with innovation as a social process and in his practice-oriented LEADER work he consequently focuses on promoting social innovations in the areas of participatory building culture, career orientation and experience of democracy in rural areas.

Hanane Allali

Hanane ALLALI, in charge of ‘LEADER and Local Development Strategies’ at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty since 2008 – Specialist in the LEADER approach and LAG cooperation. Responsible for ‘Education for sustainable development and local governance’ at the Fédération des Parcs Naturels Régionaux de France (6 years). Teacher of Geography and Regional Planning (12 years). D.E.S.S in Public Management and Regional Planning (I.A.E de Caen). Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geography and Regional Planning (Institut de Géographie et d’Aménagement du Territoire de l’Université de Nantes).

Laurence Modrego

EU campaigner at ECOLISE

Laurence is an adviser and trainer in EU advocacy, policy, and politics with two decades of experience in Brussels. A French citizen of Spanish descent, she has made it her life’s mission to build bridges between cultures on one hand, and between governments and citizens on the other. She holds a BA in Socio-Anthropology and an MA in European politics. More recently, after training in permaculture design and organic market gardening, she has finalised a Master’s degree in Agroecology to contribute to Europe’s agricultural transition and give a second life to her family’s farm in France.

Marta Marczis

Marta Marczis has been the president of AIEDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development, www.aeidl.eu ) since 2011. Since 2001, she has been working with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) on inclusive urban/rural development programmes. As a leading expert, she piloted the LEADER approach in Serbia, contributed to the creation of the North-Macedonian Rural Network, led the experimental implementation of the LEADER/CLLD approach in the Republic of Moldova (2016-2018) and now in Armenia (2019-).